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The 5 Best Hotels in Florence

 

The 5 Best Hotels in Florence

I've been expecting this list to come around, as it always does. I have no issue with their selection; I only have an appreciation for their #4 choice, the Lungarno.

 

I have a short list of my favorite hotels in the world. The Lungarno is on that list (along with the Villa D'Este, the Arizona Biltmore, the Hassler in Rome, the Alvear Palace Hotel in Buenos Aires, and the Hotel Palacio Estoril in Cascais, Portugal, and some others).

 

The article says, "As in any Italian city, the food in Florence is a highlight — and a significant factor in hotel selection. Hotel Lungarno, No. 4, and the Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, No. 5, each house a Michelin-starred restaurant. At Hotel Lungarno, Borgo San Jacopo has a new menu to accompany the views over the Ponte Vecchio that it's become known for."

 

While I'm sure the food is excellent, the reason to stay at the Lungarno is the view and the ambiance. The hotel sits at, or on, the Arno and depending on your room, faces the Ponte Vecchio. I often tell clients who are not staying at the Lungarno to get a river view table and go for lunch, or at least late afternoon tea.

 

When we stayed at the Lungarno, on our first trip to Florence, we lucked out and had the suite on the top floor. You open the door to the balcony and there is the city, right in front of you and the Ponte Vecchio is a stone's throw away. I've always been pleased with my memories and then Samantha Brown covered the Lungarno on one of her shows and stayed in our room. Talk about validation!